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Today, it is a pleasure to share selections from Chapter 4 of the Book of Daniel. “[…] I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and a holy cue came down from Heaven. He cried aloud, and said thus: Hew down the tree, and cut off its branches, Shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruit; Let the creatures get away from under it, And the fowls from its branches. Nevertheless leave the stump of its roots in the earth, Even in a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; And let it be wet with the dew of Heaven, And let his portion be with the creatures in the grass of the earth; […] And let seven times pass over him. The matter is by the decree of the watchers, And the sentence by the word of the holy ones; To the intent that the living may know That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, And gives it to whomsoever He will, And sets up over it the lowest of men. This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar have seen; and thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation. […]’ Belteshazzar answered and said: ‘[…] O King, and it is the decree of the Most High, which is come upon my Lord the King, that Thou will be driven from men, and Thy dwelling shall be with the creatures of the field, and Thou will be made to eat grass as oxen, and will be wet with the dew of Heaven, and seven times shall pass over Thee; till Thou know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomsoever He will. And whereas it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, Thy kingdom shall be sure unto Thee, after that Thou will have known that the Heavens do rule. Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto Thee, and break off Thy sins by almsgiving, and Thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if there may be a lengthening of Thy prosperity.’ All this came upon the King Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of twelve months He was walking upon the royal palace of Babylon. The King spoke and said: ‘Is not this great Babylon, which I have built for a royal dwelling-place, by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?’ While the word was in the King’s mouth, there fell a voice from Heaven: ‘O King Nebuchadnezzar, to Thee it is spoken: the kingdom is departed from Thee. And Thou will be driven from men, and Thy dwelling shall be with the creatures of the field; Thou will be made to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over Thee; until Thou know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomsoever He will.’ The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar; and He was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and His body was wet with the dew of Heaven, till His hair was grown like eagles’ feathers, and His nails like birds’ claws. ‘And at the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto Heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored Him that lives forever; For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom from generation to generation; And all the inhabitants of the Earth are reputed as nothing; And He does according to His will in the host of Heaven, And among the inhabitants of the Earth; And none can stay His hand, Or say unto Him: What do Thou? […]’”
