Hello, this is Father Paul, and I'm glad we're
taking this journey together to read the Bible
in a year. Today's reading is from the book of
Daniel, chapter 4. Nebuchadnezzar the king, to
all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell
in all the earth, peace be multiplied to you.
I thought it good to declare the signs and wonders
that the Most High God has worked for me. How
great are his signs and how mighty his wonders!
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his
dominion is from generation to generation. I,
Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house and flourishing
in my palace. I saw a dream which made me afraid,
and the thoughts on my bed and the visions of
my head troubled me. Therefore I issued a decree
to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before
me, that they might make known to me the interpretation
of the dream. Then the magicians, the astrologers,
the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers came in, and
I told them the dream, but they did not make
known to me its interpretation. But at last Daniel
came before me. His name is Belshazzar, according
to the name of my God. In him is the Spirit of
the Holy God. And I told the dream before him,
saying, Belshazzar, chief of the magicians, because
I know that the Spirit of the Holy God is in
you. and no secret troubles you, explain to me
the visions of my dream that I have seen and
its interpretation. These were the visions of
my head while on my bed. I was looking, and behold,
a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height
was great. The tree grew and became strong. Its
height reached to the heavens, and it could be
seen to the ends of all the earth. Its leaves
were lovely, its fruit abundant, and in it was
food for all. The beasts of the field found shade
under it, the birds of the heavens dwelt in its
branches, and all the flesh was fed from it.
I saw in the visions of my head while on my bed,
and there was a watcher, a holy one, coming down
from heaven. He cried aloud and said thus, Chop
down the tree and cut off its branches, strip
off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the
beasts get out from under it and the birds from
its branches. Nevertheless, Leave the stump and
roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron
and bronze, in the tender grass of the field.
Let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let
him graze with the beasts on the grass of the
earth. Let his heart be changed from that of
a man, let him be given the heart of a beast,
and let seven times pass over him. This decision
is by the decree of the watchers, and a sentence
by the word of the holy ones, in order that the
living may know. that the Most High rules in
the kingdom of men, gives it to whomever he will,
and sets over it the lowest of men. This dream
I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Now you, Belshazzar,
declare its interpretation, since all the wise
men of my kingdom are not able to make known
to me the interpretation. But you are able, for
the Spirit of the Holy God is in you. Then Daniel,
whose name was Belshazzar, was astonished for
a time. and his thoughts troubled him. So the
king spoke and said, Belshazzar, do not let the
dream or its interpretation trouble you. Belshazzar
answered and said, My lord, may the dream concern
those who hate you, and its interpretation concern
your enemies. The tree that you saw, which grew
and became strong, whose height reached to the
heavens, and which could be seen by all the earth,
whose leaves were lovely, and its fruit abundant,
in which was food for all, under which the beasts
of the field dwelt and in whose branches the
birds of the heaven had their home it is you
o king who have grown and become strong for your
greatness has grown and reaches to the heavens
and your dominion to the end of the earth and
inasmuch as the king saw a watcher a holy one
coming down from heaven and saying chop down
the tree and destroy it but leave its stump and
roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron
and bronze in the tender grass of the field.
Let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let
him graze with the beasts of the field till seven
times pass over him. This is the interpretation,
O king, and this is the decree of the Most High,
which has come upon my lord the king. They shall
drive you from men, your dwelling shall be with
the beasts of the field, and they shall make
you eat grass like oxen. They shall wet you with
the dew of heaven and seven times shall pass
over you till you know that the Most High rules
in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomever
he chooses. And inasmuch as they gave the command
to leave the stump and roots of the tree, your
kingdom shall be assured to you after you come
to know that heaven rules. Therefore, O king,
let my advice be acceptable to you. Break off
your sins by being righteous and your iniquities
by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may
be a lengthening of your prosperity. All this
came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of
the 12th month, he was walking about the royal
palace of Babylon. The king spoke, saying, Is
not this great Babylon that I have built for
a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the
honor of my majesty? While the word was still
in the king's mouth, a voice fell from heaven.
King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken. The
kingdom has departed from you, and they shall
drive you from men. and your dwelling shall be
with the beasts of the field. They shall make
you eat grass like oxen, and seven times shall
pass over you, until you know that the Most High
rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to
whom ever he chooses. That very hour the word
was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar. He was
driven from men and ate grass like oxen. His
body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his
hair had grown like eagles' feathers, and his
nails like birds' claws. And at the end of the
time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven,
and my understanding returned to me, and I blessed
the Most High and praised and honored Him who
lives forever. For His dominion is an everlasting
dominion, and His kingdom is from generation
to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth
are reputed as nothing. He does according to
His will in the army of heaven and among the
inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain
His hand or say to Him, What have you done? At
the same time, my reason returned to me, and
for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and splendor
returned to me. My counselors and nobles resorted
to me. I was restored to my kingdom, and excellent
majesty was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar,
praise and extol and honor the King of heaven,
all of whose works are truth, and his ways justice,
and those who walk in pride he is able to put
down. I hope you enjoyed today's reading as much
as I did and I look forward to seeing you again
tomorrow to continue on our journey. God bless
you and have a great day.