1 King Nebuchadnezzar, To the nations and peoples of every language, who live in all the earth: May you prosper greatly!2 It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.3 How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation.4 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home in my palace, contented and prosperous.5 I had a dream that made me afraid. As I was lying in bed, the images and visions that passed through my mind terrified me.6 So I commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret the dream for me.7 When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers "and diviners came, I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me.8 Finally, Daniel came into my presence and I told him the dream. (He is called Belteshazzar, after the name of my god, and the spirit of the holy gods is in him.)9 I said, "Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you. Here is my dream; interpret it for me.10 These are the visions I saw while lying in bed: I looked, and there before me stood a tree in the middle of the land. Its height was enormous.11 The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth.12 Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the wild animals found shelter, and the birds lived in its branches; from it every creature was fed.13 "In the visions I saw while lying in bed, I looked, and there before me was a holy one, a messenger, "coming down from heaven.14 He called in a loud voice: 'Cut down the tree and trim off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches.15 But let the stump and its roots, bound with iron and bronze, remain in the ground, in the grass of the field. "'Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the animals among the plants of the earth.16 Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let him be given the mind of an animal, till seven times "pass by for him.17 "'The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people.'18 "This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means, for none of the wise men in my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you."19 Then Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) was greatly perplexed for a time, and his thoughts terrified him. So the king said, "Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning alarm you." Belteshazzar answered, "My lord, if only the dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries!20 The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole earth,21 with beautiful leaves and abundant fruit, providing food for all, giving shelter to the wild animals, and having nesting places in its branches for the birds —22 Your Majesty, you are that tree! You have become great and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to distant parts of the earth.23 "Your Majesty saw a holy one, a messenger, coming down from heaven and saying, 'Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field, while its roots remain in the ground. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven; let him live with the wild animals, until seven times pass by for him.'24 "This is the interpretation, Your Majesty, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king:25 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.26 The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules.27 Therefore, Your Majesty, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue."28 All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar.29 Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon,30 he said, "Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?"31 Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, "This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you.32 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes."33 Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.34 At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation.35 All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: "What have you done?"36 At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before.37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

1 من نبوخذناصّر الملك الى كل الشعوب والامم والألسنة الساكنين في الارض كلها ليكثر سلامكم.2 الآيات والعجائب التي صنعها معي الله العلي حسن عندي ان اخبر بها.3 آياته ما اعظمها وعجائبه ما اقواها. ملكوته ملكوت ابدي وسلطانه الى دور فدور4 انا نبوخذناصّر قد كنت مطمئنا في بيتي وناضرا في قصري.5 رأيت حلما فروّعني والافكار على فراشي ورؤى راسي افزعتني.6 فصدر مني امر باحضار جميع حكماء بابل قدامي ليعرفوني بتعبير الحلم.7 حينئذ حضر المجوس والسحرة والكلدانيون والمنجمون وقصصت الحلم عليهم فلم يعرفوني بتعبيره.8 اخيرا دخل قدامي دانيال الذي اسمه بلطشاصر كاسم الهي والذي فيه روح الآلهة القدوسين فقصصت الحلم قدامه9 يا بلطشاصر كبير المجوس من حيث اني اعلم ان فيك روح الآلهة القدوسين ولا يعسر عليك سرّ فاخبرني برؤى حلمي الذي رايته وبتعبيره.10 فرؤى راسي على فراشي هي اني كنت ارى فاذا بشجرة في وسط الارض وطولها عظيم.11 فكبرت الشجرة وقويت فبلغ علوها الى السماء ومنظرها الى اقصى كل الارض.12 اوراقها جميلة وثمرها كثير وفيها طعام للجميع وتحتها استظل حيوان البر وفي اغصانها سكنت طيور السماء وطعم منها كل البشر.13 كنت ارى في رؤى راسي على فراشي واذا بساهر وقدوس نزل من السماء14 فصرخ بشدة وقال هكذا. اقطعوا الشجرة واقضبوا اغصانها وانثروا اوراقها وابذروا ثمرها ليهرب الحيوان من تحتها والطيور من اغصانها.15 ولكن اتركوا ساق اصلها في الارض وبقيد من حديد ونحاس في عشب الحقل وليبتلّ بندى السماء وليكن نصيبه مع الحيوان في عشب الحقل16 ليتغيّر قلبه عن الانسانية وليعط قلب حيوان ولتمضي عليه سبعة ازمنة.17 هذا الأمر بقضاء الساهرين والحكم بكلمة القدوسين لكي تعلم الاحياء ان العلي متسلط في مملكة الناس فيعطيها من يشاء وينصب عليها ادنى الناس.18 هذا الحلم رأيته انا نبوخذناصّر الملك. اما انت يا بلطشاصر فبيّن تعبيره لان كل حكماء مملكتي لا يستطيعون ان يعرفوني بالتعبير. اما انت فتستطيع لان فيك روح الآلهة القدوسين19 حينئذ تحيّر دانيال الذي اسمه بلطشاصر ساعة واحدة وافزعته افكاره. اجاب الملك وقال يا بلطشاصر لا يفزعك الحلم ولا تعبيره. فاجاب بلطشاصر وقال يا سيدي الحلم لمبغضيك وتعبيره لاعاديك.20 الشجرة التي رأيتها التي كبرت وقويت وبلغ علوها الى السماء ومنظرها الى كل الارض21 واوراقها جميلة وثمرها كثير وفيها طعام للجميع وتحتها سكن حيوان البر وفي اغصانها سكنت طيور السماء22 انما هي انت يا ايها الملك الذي كبرت وتقويت وعظمتك قد زادت وبلغت الى السماء وسلطانك الى اقصى الارض.23 وحيث رأى الملك ساهرا وقدوسا نزل من السماء وقال اقطعوا الشجرة واهلكوها ولكن اتركوا ساق اصلها في الارض وبقيد من حديد ونحاس في عشب الحقل وليبتلّ بندى السماء وليكن نصيبه مع حيوان البر حتى تمضي عليه سبعة ازمنة.24 فهذا هو التعبير ايها الملك وهذا هو قضاء العلي الذي يأتي على سيدي الملك.25 يطردونك من بين الناس وتكون سكناك مع حيوان البر ويطعمونك العشب كالثيران ويبلونك بندى السماء فتمضي عليك سبعة ازمنة حتى تعلم ان العلي متسلط في مملكة الناس ويعطيها من يشاء.26 وحيث أمروا بترك ساق اصول الشجرة فان مملكتك تثبت لك عندما تعلم ان السماء سلطان.27 لذلك ايها الملك فلتكن مشورتي مقبولة لديك وفارق خطاياك بالبر وآثامك بالرحمة للمساكين لعله يطال اطمئنانك28 كل هذا جاء على نبوخذناصّر الملك.29 عند نهاية اثني عشر شهرا كان يتمشى على قصر مملكة بابل.30 واجاب الملك فقال أليست هذه بابل العظيمة التي بنيتها لبيت الملك بقوة اقتداري ولجلال مجدي.31 والكلمة بعد في فم الملك وقع صوت من السماء قائلا لك يقولون يا نبوخذناصّر الملك ان الملك قد زال عنك32 ويطردونك من بين الناس وتكون سكناك مع حيوان البر ويطعمونك العشب كالثيران فتمضي عليك سبعة ازمنة حتى تعلم ان العلي متسلط في مملكة الناس وانه يعطيها من يشاء33 في تلك الساعة تم الأمر على نبوخذناصّر فطرد من بين الناس واكل العشب كالثيران وابتلّ جسمه بندى السماء حتى طال شعره مثل النسور واظفاره مثل الطيور34 وعند انتهاء الايام انا نبوخذناصّر رفعت عينيّ الى السماء فرجع اليّ عقلي وباركت العلي وسبحت وحمدت الحي الى الابد الذي سلطانه سلطان ابدي وملكوته الى دور فدور.35 وحسبت جميع سكان الارض كلا شيء وهو يفعل كما يشاء في جند السماء وسكان الارض ولا يوجد من يمنع يده او يقول له ماذا تفعل.36 في ذلك الوقت رجع اليّ عقلي وعاد اليّ جلال مملكتي ومجدي وبهائي وطلبني مشيريّ وعظمائي وتثبّت على مملكتي وازدادت لي عظمة كثيرة.37 فالآن انا نبوخذناصّر اسبح واعظم واحمد ملك السماء الذي كل اعماله حق وطرقه عدل ومن يسلك بالكبرياء فهو قادر على ان يذلّه