Daniel 4

1-18 Nebuchadnezzar’s Second Dream

1-3 Nebuchadnezzar blesses the nations of the earth and praises God for his signs and wonders, calling his kingdom “an everlasting kingdom.”

4-7 He recounts the story of his first dream and how Belteshazzar (Daniel) interpreted it and asks Daniel to interpret his second dream.

8-12 He sees a tree whose top reaches to heaven, with beautiful foliage, abundant fruit, providing shelter and nests for animals and birds.

13-17 A watcher comes from heaven and commands that the tree be cut down, leaving only a stump whose lot will be with the field animals. His mind will become like that of an animal for seven times, that all will know that the Most High is sovereign.

18 So tell me, Belteshazzar, the interpretation that my wise men can’t tell me, for “you are endowed with a spirit of the holy gods.”

19-27 Daniel’s Interpretation

19 The interpretation terrifies Daniel -- “may the dream be for those who hate you,” but the king tells him to go ahead.

20-22 The tree that is Nebuchadnezzar, for he has grown great, sovereign throughout the earth. But he will be driven from human society to live with wild animals, to eat grass like an oxen, until he knows that only God is sovereign. The stump is left to indicate that he will once again gain power.

28-33 Nebuchadnezzar’s Humiliation

28-30 Nebuchadnezzar is on the roof of the royal palace, extolling the virtues of Babylon and his power and majesty

31-33 While he is still talking, a voice from heaven repeats Daniel’s prophecy. He is driven away to eat grass like an oxen; his hair growing as long as eagles’ feathers and nails like bird claws.

34-37 Nebuchadnezzar Praises God

34-35 Nebuchadnezzar comes to his senses and praises God. He is sovereign; inhabitants of the earth are as nothing; he does as he wills.

36-37 Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom is restored to him, and he once again acknowledges the “King of heaven.”