4:13 While I was watching in my mind’s visions
a holy sentinel
4:14 He called out loudly
‘Chop down the tree and lop off its branches!
Strip off its foliage
and scatter its fruit!
Let the animals flee from under it
and the birds from its branches!
4:15 But leave its taproot
with a band of iron and bronze around it
surrounded by the grass of the field.
Let it become damp with the dew of the sky,
and let it live with
4:16 Let his mind
and let an animal’s mind be given to him,
and let seven periods of time
4:17 This announcement is by the decree of the sentinels;
this decision is by the pronouncement of the holy ones,
so that
that the Most High has authority over human kingdoms,
and he bestows them on whomever he wishes.
He establishes over them even the lowliest of human beings.’