The Future According to the Book of Daniel   257 

{4:3} And so a decree was established by me, that all of the wise men of 

Babylon should be brought in before me, and that they should reveal to me 

the answer to the dream. 

{4:4} Then the seers, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers 

entered, and I explained about the dream in their presence, but they did not 

reveal its answer to me. 

{4:5} And then their colleague came in before me, Daniel, (whose name is 

Belteshazzar according to the name of my god,) who has the spirit of the 

holy gods within his very self, and I told the dream directly to him. 

{4:6} Belteshazzar, leader of the seers, since I know that you have in you the 

spirit of the holy gods, and that no mystery is unreachable to you, explain to 

me the visions of my dreams, which I saw, and the solution to them. 

{4:7} This was the vision of my head on my bed. I looked, and behold, a 

tree in the middle of the earth, and its height was exceedingly great. 

{4:8} The tree was great and strong, and its height reached up to heaven. It 

could be seen all the way to the ends of the entire earth. 

{4:9} Its leaves were very beautiful, and its fruit was very abundant, and in it 

was food for the whole world. Under it, animals and beasts were dwelling, 

and in its branches, the birds of the sky were sheltered, and from it, all flesh 

was fed. 

{4:10} I saw in the vision of my head upon my blanket, and behold, a 

watcher and a holy one descended from heaven. 

{4:11} He cried out loudly, and he said this:  Cut down the tree and prune 

its branches; shake off its leaves and scatter its fruits; let flee the beasts, 

which are under it, and the birds from its branches. 

{4:12} Nevertheless, leave the stump of its roots in the earth, and let it be 

bound with a band of iron and brass among the plants, which are close by, 

and let it be touched by the dew of heaven, and let its place be with the wild 

animals among the plants of the earth. 

{4:13} Let his heart be changed from being human, and let the heart of a 

wild animal be given to him, and let seven periods of time pass over him. 

{4:14} This is the decree from the judgment of the watchers, and the 

decision and proclamation of the holy ones, until the living shall know that 

the Supreme One is ruler in the kingdom of men, and that he will give it to 

whomever he wills, and he will appoint the lowest man over it.  

{4:15} I, king Nebuchadnezzar, saw this dream. And so you, Belteshazzar, 

must quickly explain to me the interpretation because all the wise men of my 

kingdom are not able to declare the meaning of it to me. But you are able 

because the spirit of the holy gods is in you. 

{4:16} Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, began silently to think 

within himself for  about one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. But the 

king responded, saying,  Belteshazzar, do not let the dream and its