⁴I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and flourishing in my palace. ⁵I had a dream, and it frightened me; while I was in my bed, the images and visions in my mind alarmed me. ⁶So I issued a decree that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret the dream for me. ⁷When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners came in, I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me. ⁸But at last, into my presence came Daniel (whose name is Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods). And I told him the dream: ⁹“O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery baffles you. So explain to me the visions I saw in my dream, and their interpretation. ¹⁰In these visions of my mind as I was lying in bed, I saw this come to pass: ¹¹The tree grew large and strong; ¹²Its leaves were beautiful, ¹³As I lay on my bed, I also saw in the visions of my mind a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven. ¹⁴He called out in a loud voice: ¹⁵But leave the stump with its roots in the ground, ¹⁶Let his mind be changed from that of a man, ¹⁷This decision is the decree of the watchers, ¹⁸This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because none of the wise men of my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you are able, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”