Daniel 4:17

4:17 This announcement is by the decree of the sentinels;

this decision is by the pronouncement of the holy ones,

so that ¹  those who are alive may understand

that the Most High has authority over human kingdoms, ² 

and he bestows them on whomever he wishes.

He establishes over them even the lowliest of human beings.’

Daniel 4:32

4:32 You will be driven from human society, and you will live with the wild animals. You will be fed grass like oxen, and seven periods of time will pass by for you before ³  you understand that the Most High is ruler over human kingdoms and gives them to whomever he wishes.”

Daniel 4:34-35

4:34 But at the end of the appointed time ⁴  I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up ⁵  toward heaven, and my sanity returned to me.

I extolled the Most High,

and I praised and glorified the one who lives forever.

For his authority is an everlasting authority,

and his kingdom extends from one generation to the next.

4:35 All the inhabitants of the earth are regarded as nothing. ⁶ 

He does as he wishes with the army of heaven

and with those who inhabit the earth.

No one slaps ⁷  his hand

and says to him, ‘What have you done?’

Daniel 2:21

2:21 He changes times and seasons,

deposing some kings

and establishing others. ⁸ 

He gives wisdom to the wise;

he imparts knowledge to those with understanding; ⁹ 

Daniel 5:21

5:21 He was driven from human society, his mind ¹⁰  was changed to that of an animal, he lived ¹¹  with the wild donkeys, he was fed grass like oxen, and his body became damp with the dew of the sky, until he came to understand that the most high God rules over human kingdoms, and he appoints over them whomever he wishes.

Psalms 75:7

75:7 For God is the judge! ¹² 

He brings one down and exalts another. ¹³ 

Psalms 83:18

83:18 Then they will know ¹⁴  that you alone are the Lord, ¹⁵ 

the sovereign king ¹⁶  over all the earth.

Jeremiah 27:5

27:5 “I made the earth and the people and animals on it by my mighty power and great strength, ¹⁷  and I give it to whomever I see fit. ¹⁸ 

¹ tc The present translation follows an underlying reading of עַל־דִּבְרַת (’al-divrat, “so that”) rather than MT עַד־דִּבְרַת (’ad-divrat, “until”).

² tn Aram “the kingdom of man”; NASB “the realm of mankind”; NCV “every kingdom on earth.”

³ tn Aram “until.”

⁴ tn Aram “days.”

⁵ tn Aram “lifted up my eyes.”

⁶ tc The present translation reads כְּלָא (kÿla’), with many medieval Hebrew MSS, rather than כְּלָה (kÿlah) of BHS.

⁷ tn Aram “strikes against.”

⁸ tn Aram “kings.”

⁹ tn Aram “the knowers of understanding.”

¹⁰ tn Aram “heart.”

¹¹ tn Aram “his dwelling.”

¹² tn Or “judges.”

¹³ tn The imperfects here emphasize the generalizing nature of the statement.

¹⁴ tn After the preceding jussives (v. 17), the prefixed verbal form with prefixed vav (ו) indicates purpose (“so that they may know”) or result.

¹⁵ tn Heb “that you, your name [is] the Lord, you alone.”

¹⁶ tn Traditionally “the Most High.”

¹⁷ tn Heb “by my great power and my outstretched arm.” Again “arm” is symbolical for “strength.” Compare the similar expression in 21:5.

¹⁸ sn See Dan 4:17 for a similar statement.