King Nabuchodonosor having another dream, telleth it to Daniel, demanding of him the interpretation: 16. who encouraged and warranted to speak freely, sheweth that the king shall become like a beast in form seven years: 28. the same is confirmed by a voice from heaven: 30. and being fulfilled, he is at last restored to his own form, and state.King Nabuchodonosor hauing an other dreame, telleth it to Daniel, demanding of him the interpretation: 16. who encoreged and warrented to speake freely, sheweth that the king shal become like a beast in forme seuen yeares: 28. the same is confirmed by a voice from heauen: 30. and being fulfilled, he is at last restored to his owne forme, and state.✦
I Nabuchodonosor was quiet in my house, and flourishing in my palace.I Nabuchodonosor was quiet in my house, and florishing in my palace.✦Ego Nabuchodonosor quietus eram in domo mea, et florens in palatio meo :
2I saw a dream that made me sore afraid: and my cogitations in my bed, and the visions of my head disturbed me.I saw a dreame that made me sore afrayd: and my cogitations in my bed, and the visions of my head disturbed me.✦somnium vidi, quod perterruit me : et cogitationes meæ in strato meo, et visiones capitis mei conturbaverunt me.
3And by me there was a decree set forth, that all the wise men of Babylon should be brought into my sight, and that they should shew me the solution of the dream.And by me there was a decree setforth, that al the wisemen of Babylon should be brought into my sight, and that they should shew me the solution of the dreame.Et per me propositum est decretum ut introducerentur in conspectu meo cuncti sapientes Babylonis, et ut solutionem somnii indicarent mihi.
4Then came in the soothsayers, magicians, Chaldees, and diviners, and I told the dream in their sight: and the solution thereof they shewed me not:Then came in the southsayers, magicians, Chaldees, and diuiners, and I told the dreame in their sight: & the solution therof they shewed me not:Tunc ingrediebantur arioli, magi, Chaldæi, et aruspices, et somnium narravi in conspectu eorum : et solutionem ejus non indicaverunt mihi,
5till their colleague Daniel came into my sight, whose name is Baltassar, according to the name of my God, who hath the spirit of the holy gods in himself: and I told the dream before him.til their collegue Daniel came into my sight, whole name is Baltassar, according to the name of my God, who hath the spirit of the holie goddes in himself: and I told the dreame before him.✦donec collega ingressus est in conspectu meo Daniel, cui nomen Baltassar secundum nomen dei mei, qui habet spiritum deorum sanctorum in semetipso : et somnium coram ipso locutus sum.
6Baltassar prince of the soothsayers, because I know that thou hast the spirit of the holy gods in thee, and no secret is impossible to thee: tell thou the visions of my dreams, which I have seen, and the solution of them.Baltassar prince of the southsayers, because I know that thou hast the spirit of the holie goddes in thee, and no secrete is impossible to thee: tel thou the visions of my dreames, which I haue sene, and the solution of them.✦Baltassar, princeps ariolorum, quoniam ego scio quod spiritum sanctorum deorum habeas in te, et omne sacramentum non est impossibile tibi : visiones somniorum meorum, quas vidi, et solutionem earum narra.
7The vision of my head in my bed, I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof exceeding.The vision of my head in my bed, I saw, and behold a tree in the middes of the earth, and the height therof exceding.Visio capitis mei in cubili meo : videbam, et ecce arbor in medio terræ, et altitudo ejus nimia.
8A great tree, and strong: and the height thereof touching the heaven: the sight thereof was even to the ends of all the earth.A great tree, and strong: and the height therof touching the heauen: the sight therof was euen to the endes of al the earth.✦Magna arbor, et fortis, et proceritas ejus contingens cælum : aspectus illius erat usque ad terminos universæ terræ.
9The leaves thereof most fair, and the fruit thereof exceeding much: and the food of all things in it: under it dwelt cattle, and beasts, and in the boughs thereof conversabantur: dwelt, had their abode, not "held converse" the fowls of heaven: and of it all flesh did eat.The leaues therof most fayre, and the fruit therof exceding much: and the foode of al thinges in it: vnder it dwelt cattel, and beasts, and in the boughes therof conuersed the foules of heauen: and of it al flesh did eate.✦Folia ejus pulcherrima, et fructus ejus nimius : et esca universorum in ea. Subter eam habitabant animalia et bestiæ, et in ramis ejus conversabantur volucres cæli : et ex ea vescebatur omnis caro.
10I saw in the vision of my head upon my bed, and behold a vigil: a wakeful angelic guardian, a "watcher", and a holy one descended from heaven.I saw in the vision of my head vpon my bed, & behold a watchman, and an holie one descended from heauen.✦Videbam in visione capitis mei super stratum meum, et ecce vigil, et sanctus, de cælo descendit.
11He cried mightily, and thus he said: Cut ye down the tree, and chop off the boughs thereof: shake off the leaves thereof, and scatter the fruits thereof: let the beasts flee that are under it, and the fowls from the boughs thereof.He cried mightely, and thus he sayd: Cut ye downe the tree, & choppe of the boughes therof: shake of the leaues therof, and scatter the fruits therof: let the beasts flie that are vnder it, and the foules from the boughes therof.Clamavit fortiter, et sic ait : Succidite arborem, et præcidite ramos ejus : excutite folia ejus, et dispergite fructus ejus : fugiant bestiæ, quæ subter eam sunt, et volucres de ramis ejus.
12But yet leave the spring of the roots thereof in the earth, and let it be tied with iron, and brazen band among the grass, that is without, and let it be dipped with the dew of heaven, and with wild beasts his portion in the grass of the earth.But yet leaue the spring of the rootes therof in the earth, and let it be tyed with yron, and brasen band among the grasse, that is without, and let it be dipped with the dew of heauen, and with wild beasts his portion in the grasse of the earth.✦Verumtamen germen radicum ejus in terra sinite, et alligetur vinculo ferreo et æreo in herbis quæ foris sunt, et rore cæli tingatur, et cum feris pars ejus in herba terræ.
13Let his heart be changed from human, and let the heart of a wild beast be given him: and let seven times be changed over him.Let his hart be changed from humane, & let the hart of a wild beast be geuen him: and let seuen times be changed ouer him.¶✦Cor ejus ab humano commutetur, et cor feræ detur ei : et septem tempora mutentur super eum.
14In the sentence of the watchman is the decree, and the word of saints, and the petition, till the living know, that the high one ruleth in the kingdom of men; and to whomsoever it shall please him, he will give it, and the basest man he will appoint over it.In the sentence of the watchman is the decree, and the word of saintes, and the petition, til the liuing know, that the hiegh one ruleth in the kingdom of men; and to whom soeuer it shal please him, he wil geue it, & the basest man he wil appoint ouer it.✦In sententia vigilum decretum est, et sermo sanctorum, et petitio : donec cognoscant viventes quoniam dominatur Excelsus in regno hominum, et cuicumque voluerit, dabit illud, et humillimum hominem constituet super eum.
15This dream saw I Nabuchodonosor the king: thou therefore O Baltassar tell the interpretation quickly: because all the wise men of my kingdom cannot declare the solution unto me: but thou canst, because the spirit of holy gods is in thee.This dreame saw I Nabuchodonosor the king: thou therfore ô Baltassar tel the interpretation quickly: because al the wisemen of my kingdom can not declare the solution vnto me: but thou canst, because the spirit of holie goddes is in thee.Hoc somnium vidi ego Nabuchodonosor rex : tu ergo Baltassar interpretationem narra festinus, quia omnes sapientes regni mei non queunt solutionem edicere mihi : tu autem potes, quia spiritus deorum sanctorum in te est.
16Then Daniel, whose name was Baltassar, began secretly to think within himself as it were for one hour: and his cogitations troubled him. But the king answering said: Baltassar, let not the dream and the interpretation thereof trouble thee. Baltassar answered, and said: My Lord, the dream be to them, that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof be thine enemies.Then Daniel, whose name was Baltassar, began secretely to thinke within himself as it were for one houre: & his cogitations trubled him. But the king answering said: Baltassar, let not the dreame and the interpretation therof truble thee. Baltassar answered, and said: My Lord, the dreame be to them, that hate thee, and the interpretation therof be thine enemies.✦Tunc Daniel, cujus nomen Baltassar, cœpit intra semetipsum tacitus cogitare quasi una hora : et cogitationes ejus conturbabant eum. Respondens autem rex, ait : Baltassar, somnium et interpretatio ejus non conturbent te. Respondit Baltassar, et dixit : Domine mi, somnium his, qui te oderunt, et interpretatio ejus hostibus tuis sit.
17The tree which thou sawest high and strong, whose height reacheth to the heaven, and the sight thereof into all the earth:The tree which thou sawest high and strong, whose height reacheth to the heauen, and the sight therof into al the earth:Arborem, quam vidisti sublimem atque robustam, cujus altitudo pertingit ad cælum, et aspectus illius in omnem terram ;
18and the bough thereof most fair, and the fruit thereof exceeding much, and the food of things in it, under it the beasts of the field inhabiting, and in the boughs thereof the fowls of heaven abiding:and the bough therof most fayre, and the fruit therof exceding much, and the foode of things in it, vnder it the beasts of the silde inhabiting, & in the boughes therof the foules of heauen abyding:et rami ejus pulcherrimi, et fructus ejus nimius, et esca omnium in ea, subter eam habitantes bestiæ agri, et in ramis ejus commorantes aves cæli :
19It is thou king, which art magnified, and become mighty: and thy greatness hath grown, and is come even to heaven, and thy power unto the ends of the earth.It is thou king, which art magnified, & become mightie: & thy greatnes hath growen, and is come euen to heauen, and thy power vnto the endes of the earth.tu es rex, qui magnificatus es, et invaluisti : et magnitudo tua crevit, et pervenit usque ad cælum, et potestas tua in terminos universæ terræ.
20But in that the king saw a watchman, and a holy one descend from heaven, and say: Cut ye down the tree, and dissipate it, but leave the spring of the roots thereof in the earth, and let it be bound with iron and brass among the grass without, and let it be sprinkled with the dew of heaven, and let his fodder be with the wild beasts, till seven times be changed over him.But in that the king saw a watchman, and an holie one descend fron heauen, and say: Cut ye downe the tree, and dissipate it, but leaue the spring of the rootes therof in the earth, and let it be bound with yron and brasse among the grasse without, and let it be sprinkled with the dew of heauen, and let his foder be with the wild beasts, til seauen times be changed ouer him.Quod autem vidit rex vigilem, et sanctum descendere de cælo, et dicere : Succidite arborem, et dissipate illam, attamen germen radicum ejus in terra dimittite, et vinciatur ferro et ære in herbis foris, et rore cæli conspergatur, et cum feris sit pabulum ejus, donec septem tempora mutentur super eum :
21This is the interpretation of the sentence of the Highest, which is come upon my Lord the king.This is the interpretation of the sentence of the Highest, which is come vpon my Lord the king.hæc est interpretatio sententiæ Altissimi, quæ pervenit super dominum meum regem,
22They shall cast thee out from men, and with beasts and wild beasts shall thy habitation be, and grass thou shalt eat as an ox, and with the dew of heaven thou shalt be wet: seven times also shall be changed over thee, till thou know that the High one ruleth over the kingdoms of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.They shal cast thee out from men, and with beasts and wilde beasts shal thy habitation be, and grasse thou shalt eate as an oze, & with the dew of heauen thou shalt be wett: seuen times also shal be chaunged ouer thee, til thou know that the High one ruleth ouer the kingdoms of men, and geueth it to whomsoeuer he wil.Ejicient te ab hominibus, et cum bestiis ferisque erit habitatio tua, et fœnum ut bos comedes, et rore cæli infunderis : septem quoque tempora mutabuntur super te, donec scias quod dominetur Excelsus super regnum hominum, et cuicumque voluerit, det illud.
23But whereas he commanded, that the spring of the roots thereof, that is, of the tree, should be left: thy kingdom shall remain to thee after thou shalt have known that power is heavenly.But wheras he commanded, that the spring of the rootes therof, that is, of the tree, should be left: thy kingdom shal remayne to thee after thou shalt haue knowen that powre is heauenly.Quod autem præcepit ut relinqueretur germen radicum ejus, id est arboris : regnum tuum tibi manebit postquam cognoveris potestatem esse cælestem.
24Wherefore O king let me counsel thee, and redime: atone for, buy off the penalty of thou thy sins with alms, and thine iniquities with the mercies of the poor: perhaps he will forgive thy offences.Wherfore ô king let me counsel thee, and redeme thou thy sinnes with almes, & thine iniquities with the mercies of the poore: perhaps he wil forgeue thyne offences.✦Quam ob rem, rex, consilium meum placeat tibi, et peccata tua eleemosynis redime, et iniquitates tuas misericordiis pauperum : forsitan ignoscet delictis tuis.
25All these things came upon Nabuchodonosor the king.Al these thinges came vpon Nabuchodonosor the king.Omnia hæc venerunt super Nabuchodonosor regem.
26After the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of Babylon.After the end of twelue moneths he walked in the palace of Babylon.✦Post finem mensium duodecim, in aula Babylonis deambulabat.
27And the king answered, and said: Is not this Babylon the great city, which I have built to be the house of the kingdom, in the strength of my power, and in the glory of my beauty?And the king answered, & sayd: Is not this Babylon the great citie, which I haue built to be the house of the kingdom, in the strength of my powre, and in the glorie of my beautie?✦Responditque rex, et ait : Nonne hæc est Babylon magna, quam ego ædificavi in domum regni, in robore fortitudinis meæ, et in gloria decoris mei ?
28And when the word was yet in the king's mouth, a voice came down from heaven: To thee it is said Nabuchodonosor: Thy kingdom shall pass from thee,And when the word was yet in the kings mouth, a voice came downe from heauen: To thee it is sayd Nabuchodonosor: Thy kingdom shal passe from thee,✦Cumque sermo adhuc esset in ore regis, vox de cælo ruit : Tibi dicitur, Nabuchodonosor rex : Regnum tuum transibit a te,
29and from men they shall cast thee out, and with beasts and wild beasts shall thy habitation be: grass as an ox shalt thou eat, and seven times shall be changed over thee till thou know that the High one ruleth in the kingdom of men, and to whomsoever he will, he giveth it.and from men they shal cast thee out, and with beastes and wilde beasts shal thy habitation be: grasse as an oxe shalt thou eate, and seuen times shal be changed ouer thee til thou know that the Hiegh one ruleth in the kingdom of men, & to whom soeuer he wil, he geueth it.et ab hominibus ejicient te, et cum bestiis et feris erit habitatio tua : fœnum quasi bos comedes, et septem tempora mutabuntur super te, donec scias quod dominetur Excelsus in regno hominum, et cuicumque voluerit, det illud.
30The self same hour was the word accomplished upon Nabuchodonosor, and he was cast away from among men, and as an ox did he eat grass, and with the dew of heaven his body was infectum: drenched, soaked: till his hairs grew into the similitude of eagles, and his nails as it were of birds.The self same houre was the word accomplished vpon Nabuchodonosor, and he was cast away from among men, & as an oxe did he eate grasse, and with the dew of heauen his bodie was imbrued: til his heares grew into the similitude of eagles, & his nailes as it were of birds.✦Eadem hora sermo completus est super Nabuchodonosor, et ex hominibus abjectus est, et fœnum ut bos comedit, et rore cæli corpus ejus infectum est, donec capilli ejus in similitudinem aquilarum crescerent, et ungues ejus quasi avium.
31Therefore after the end of the days, I Nabuchodonosor lifted up mine eyes to heaven, and my sense was restored to me: and I blessed the Highest, and praised him that liveth for ever, and glorified him: because his power is an everlasting power, and his kingdom in generation and generation.Therfore after the end of the dayes, I Nabuchodonosor lifted vp mine eyes to heauen, and my sense was restored to me: and I blessed the Highest, and praysed him that liueth for euer, and glorified him: because his powre is an euerlasting powre, and his kingdom in generation and generation.✦Igitur post finem dierum, ego Nabuchodonosor oculos meos ad cælum levavi, et sensus meus redditus est mihi : et Altissimo benedixi, et viventem in sempiternum laudavi et glorificavi : quia potestas ejus potestas sempiterna, et regnum ejus in generationem et generationem.
32And all the inhabitants of the earth with him are reputed for nothing: for he doth according to his will, as well in the powers of heaven, as in the inhabitants of the earth: and there is none that can resist his hand, and say to him: Why didst thou it?And al the inhabitants of the earth with him are reputed for nothing: for he doth according to his wil, as wel in the powers of heauen, as in the inhabitants of the earth: & there is none that can resist his hand, and say to him: Why didst thou it?✦Et omnes habitatores terræ apud eum in nihilum reputati sunt : juxta voluntatem enim suam facit tam in virtutibus cæli quam in habitatoribus terræ : et non est qui resistat manui ejus, et dicat ei : Quare fecisti ?
33In the very same time did my sense return to me, and I came to the honour, and beauty of my kingdom: and my figura: outward form, shape returned to me: and my nobles, and my magistrates sought for me, and I was restored in my kingdom: and more ample magnificence was added to me.In the very same time did my sense returne tó me, & I came to the honour, and beautie of my kingdom: and my figure returned to me: and my nobles, & my magistrates sought for me, and I was restored in my kingdom: and more ample magnificence was added to me.✦In ipso tempore sensus meus reversus est ad me, et ad honorem regni mei, decoremque perveni : et figura mea reversa est ad me, et optimates mei et magistratus mei requisierunt me, et in regno meo restitutus sum : et magnificentia amplior addita est mihi.
34Now therefore I Nabuchodonosor praise, and magnify, and glorify the king of heaven: because all his works are true, and his ways judgements, and them that walk in pride he can humble.Now therfore I Nabuchodonosor praise, and magnifie, and glorifie the king of heauen: because al his workes are true, and his wayes iudgements, and them that walke in pride he can humble.¶✦Nunc igitur, ego Nabuchodonosor laudo, et magnifico, et glorifico regem cæli : quia omnia opera ejus vera, et viæ ejus judicia, et gradientes in superbia potest humiliare.
Annotationsfrom the original 1609 Douay Old Testament
13Let his heart be changed. In what manner king Nabuchodonosor was changed is hard to explicate. But omitting other opinions, the most probable and common is, that he was not deprived of his reasonable soul, nor the form and parts of his body substantially changed from the nature of a man: but he was distracted losing the use of reason, and in his own melancholy imagination and fantasy, thought that he was a beast. And therefore easily refused the conversation of men, and consorted himself with beasts; went naked; his hair growing very much, and covering all his body; his nails likewise extreme long; he went on his hands together with his feet, like four-footed beasts; did eat grass as an ox, putting his mouth to the ground, to shear and swallow it, the space of seven years. Then God restoring to him the use of reason, and inspiring him with grace, he lifted up his eyes to heaven (v. 31.) and in perfect sense blessed God, the Highest, and praised him; was again received, yea sought for by his nobles and magistrates: so was restored to his kingdom, and had more magnificence than before.Let his hart be changed. In what maner king Nabuchodonosor was changed is hard to explicate. But omitting other opinions, the most probable and common is, that he was not depriued of his reasonable soule, nor the forme and partes of his bodie substantially changed from the nature of a man: but he was distracted losing the vse of reason, and in his owne melancholie imagination and phantasie, thought that he was a beast. And therfore easily refused the conuersation of men, and consorted himself with beasts; went naked; his hayre growing very much, and couering al his bodie; his nayles likewise extreme long; he went on his handes together with his feete, like fourfooted beastes; did eate grasse as an oxe, putting his mouth to the ground, to shere and swalowe it, the space of seuen yeares. Then God restoring to him the vse of reason, and inspiring him with grace, he lifted vp his eyes to heauen (v.31.) and in perfect sense blessed God, the Highest, and praysed him; was againe receiued, yea sought for by his nobles and magistrates: so was restored to his kingdom, and had more magnificence then before.
34Now therefore I Nabuchodonosor praise, magnify, and glorify God. Albeit holy Scripture doth not report, when and how king Nabuchodonosor died, yet by this last thing written of him, it is very like he lived not long after his great chastisement: for if he had, it is probable that Daniel would have written more of him, and that he being so fully converted to God, would have delivered Joachin king of Juda, out of prison (which his next successor Evilmerodach did. 4 Kings 25. v. 27.) and all the Jews from captivity, if God had longer spared him life, he being now well affected towards them. And that he died in state of salvation, may with great reason be supposed, seeing his repentance and conversion to God is so fully expressed in holy Scripture, and no mention that he fell again. Which is also the judgement of most learned writers, Namely of Josephus, book 10 Antiquities; Dorotheus in Synopsis; St. Epiphanius, in the life of Daniel; St. Jerome, epistle 7 to Læta; St. Augustine, epistle 122 to Victoria, and book on predestination and grace ch. 15. Where he compareth Pharao with Nabuchodonosor, and their divers ends, by God's grace moving the one to penance for his iniquity, the other wilfully fighting against God's merciful verity. as we have noted. Exodus 7, page 174.Now therfore I Nabuchodonosor praise, magnifie, and glorifie God. Albeit holie Scripture doth not reporte, when and how king Nabuchodonosor died, yet by this last thing written of him, it is very like he liued not long after his great chastisment: for if he had, it is probable that Daniel would haue written more of him, & that he being so fully conuerted to God, would haue deliuered Ioachin king of Iuda, out of prison (which his next successor Euilmerodach did. 4. Reg. 25. v. 27.) and al the Iewes from captiuitie, if God had longer spared him life, he being now wel affected towards them. And that he died in state of saluation, may with great reason be supposed, seing his repentance and conuersion to God is so fully expressed in holie Scripture, and no mention that he fel againe. Which is also the iudgement of most lerned writers, Namely of Iosephus. li. 10. Antiq. Dorotheus in Synopsi. S. Epiphanius, in vita Danielis. S. Ierom. epist. 7. ad Letam. S. Augustin epist. 122. ad Victoriam, & li. de predest & gratia c. 15. Where he compareth Pharao with Nabuchodonosor, and their diuers endes, by Gods grace mouing the one to penance for his iniquitie, the other wilfully fighting against Gods merciful veritie. as we haue noted. Exo. 7. pag. 174.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.