I saw a mean and sinful person. He was doing well, like a green tree in its own land.

我见过恶人大有势力，好像一棵青翠树在本土生发。

我见过恶人大有势力，高耸如本地青翠的树木。

我见过恶人大有势力，高耸如本地青翠的树木。

我见过邪恶残暴之人，乍看如葱茏的黎巴嫩香柏树，

我曾看见强暴的恶人兴旺，像树木在本土茂盛。

我曾看到恶人的强横，像本地青翠的树那样蔓延；

我見過惡人大有勢力，好像一棵青翠樹在本土生發。

我見過惡人大有勢力，高聳如本地青翠的樹木。

我見過惡人大有勢力，高聳如本地青翠的樹木。

我見過邪惡殘暴之人，乍看如蔥蘢的黎巴嫩香柏樹，

我曾看見強暴的惡人興旺，像樹木在本土茂盛。

我見過惡人強橫可怖，挺然高聳、像茂盛的香柏樹。

我曾看到惡人的強橫，像本地青翠的樹那樣蔓延；

我見惡人勢盛、張大如青葱之樹、在其本土兮、

我見惡者強暴、蔓衍葱蘢、若茂樹兮、

我曾見強暴之惡人興旺、如根深葉茂之大樹、

曾見惡勢張。葱翠如春林。

I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a luxuriant native tree,

I have seen a wicked, ruthless man, spreading himself like a green laurel tree.

I have seen wicked and ruthless people flourishing like a tree in its native soil.

I have seen a wicked, violent person well-rooted, like a flourishing native tree.

I have seen a wicked, violent person Spreading himself like a luxuriant tree in its native soil.

I have seen the wicked in great power, And spreading himself like a native green tree.

I have seen the wicked in great power, And spreading himself like a green tree in its native soil.

I have seen a wicked, violent man well-rooted like a flourishing native tree.

I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.

I have seen ruthless evil men growing in influence, like a green tree grows in its native soil.

I have seen the wicked in great power, spreading himself like a green tree in its native soil.

I saw that foolish people were having success. But suddenly harm came to their homes.

Why do sinful people keep on living? The older they grow, the richer they get.They see their children grow up around them. They watch their family grow larger.Their homes are safe. They don’t have to be afraid. God isn’t punishing them.Every time their bulls mate, their cows become pregnant. And the calves don’t die before they are born.Sinful people send their children out like a flock of lambs. Their little ones dance around.They sing to the music of tambourines and lyres. They have a good time while flutes are being played.Those who are evil spend their years living well. They go down to their graves in peace.But they say to God,‘ Leave us alone! We don’t want to know how you want us to live.Who is the Mighty One? Why should we serve him? What would we get if we prayed to him?’But they aren’t in control of their own success. So I don’t pay any attention to their plans.“ How often are their lamps blown out? How often does trouble come on them? How often does God punish them when he’s angry?

The same thing happens to everyone who forgets God. The hope of ungodly people dies out.What they trust in is very weak. What they depend on is like a spider’s web.They lean on it, but it falls apart. They hold on to it, but it gives way.They are like a plant in the sunshine that receives plenty of water. It spreads its new growth all over the garden.It wraps its roots around a pile of rocks. It tries to find places to grow among the stones.But when the plant is pulled up from its spot, that place says,‘ I never saw you.’The life of that plant is sure to dry up. But from the same soil other plants will grow.

I will rise above the tops of the clouds. I’ll make myself like the Most High God.’But now you have been brought down to the place of the dead. You have been thrown into the deepest part of the pit.“ Those who see you stare at you. They think about what has happened to you. They say to themselves,‘ Is this the man who shook the earth? Is he the one who made kingdoms tremble with fear?Did he turn the world into a desert? Did he destroy its cities? Did he refuse to let his prisoners go home?’“ All the kings of the nations are buried with honor. Each of them lies in his own tomb.But you have been thrown out of your tomb. You are like a branch that is cut off and thrown away. You are covered with the bodies of those who have been killed by swords. You have been tossed into a stony pit along with them. You are like a dead body that people have walked on.

All the birds in the sky made their nests in its limbs. All the wild animals had their babies under its branches. All the great nations lived in its shade.Its spreading branches made it majestic and beautiful. Its roots went down deep to where there was plenty of water.The cedar trees in my garden were no match for it. The juniper trees could not equal its limbs. The plane trees could not compare with its branches. No tree in my garden could match its beauty.I gave it many branches. They made it beautiful. All the trees in my Garden of Eden were jealous of it.’ ”So the Lord and King says,“ The great cedar tree grew very high. Its top was above all the leaves. It was proud of how tall it was.

I saw that proud and sinful people were doing well. And I began to long for what they had.They don’t have any troubles. Their bodies are healthy and strong.They don’t have the problems most people have. They don’t suffer as other people do.Their pride is like a necklace. They put on meanness as if it were their clothes.Many sins come out of their hard and stubborn hearts. There is no limit to the evil things they can think up.They laugh at others and speak words of hatred. They are proud. They warn others about the harm they can do to them.They brag as if they owned heaven itself. They talk as if they controlled the earth.So people listen to them. They lap up their words like water.They say,“ How would God know what we’re doing? Does the Most High God know anything?”

He bragged to them about how rich he was. He talked about how many sons he had. He spoke about all the ways the king had honored him. He bragged about how the king had given him a high position. It was higher than the position of any of the other nobles and officials.

“ Which one of the trees of Eden can be compared with you? What tree is as glorious and majestic as you are? But you too will be brought down to the earth below. There you will join the trees of Eden. You will lie down with those who have not been circumcised. You will be among those who were killed by swords.“ That is what will happen to Pharaoh and his huge armies,” announces the Lord and King.

You saw a tree. It grew to be large and strong. Its top touched the sky. It could be seen from anywhere on earth.Its leaves were beautiful. It had a lot of fruit on it. It provided enough food for people and animals. Under the tree, the wild animals found safety. The birds lived in its branches.Your Majesty, you are that tree! You have become great and strong. Your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky. Your rule has spread to all parts of the earth.“ Your Majesty, you saw a holy one. He was a messenger. He came down from heaven. He said,‘ Cut down the tree. Destroy it. But leave the stump with its roots in the ground. Let it stay in the field. Put an iron and bronze band around it. Let King Nebuchadnezzar become wet with the dew of heaven. Let him live with the wild animals. Let him stay that way until seven periods of time pass by.’“ Your Majesty, here is what your dream means. The Most High God has given an order against you.You will be driven away from people. You will live with the wild animals. You will eat grass just as an ox does. You will become wet with the dew of heaven. Seven periods of time will pass by for you. Then you will recognize that the Most High God rules over all kingdoms on earth. He gives them to anyone he wants.But he gave a command to leave the stump of the tree along with its roots. That means your kingdom will be given back to you. It will happen when you recognize that the God of heaven rules.So, Your Majesty, I hope you will accept my advice. Stop being sinful. Do what is right. Give up your evil practices. Show kindness to those who are being treated badly. Then perhaps things will continue to go well with you.”All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar.It took place twelve months later. He was walking on the roof of his palace in Babylon.He said,“ Isn’t this the great Babylon I have built as a place for my royal palace? I used my mighty power to build it. It shows how glorious my majesty is.”He was still speaking when he heard a voice from heaven. It said,“ King Nebuchadnezzar, here is what has been ordered concerning you. Your royal authority has been taken from you.You will be driven away from people. You will live with the wild animals. You will eat grass just as an ox does. Seven periods of time will pass by for you. Then you will recognize that the Most High God rules over all kingdoms on earth. He gives them to anyone he wants.”What had been said about King Nebuchadnezzar came true at once. He was driven away from people. He ate grass just as an ox does. His body became wet with the dew of heaven. He stayed that way until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle. His nails became like the claws of a bird.