Our scripture reading this morning is taken from the book of Daniel, chapter 4, beginning at

verse 28.

All this came upon King Nipokanes. At the end of the 12 months, he was working on the roof of the Royal Palace of Babylon.

And the king said, it's not this great Babylon, which I have built by my power, my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty.

Why the words were still in the king's mouth, they felt a voice from heaven,

O King Nebokanesa, to you it is spoken, the kingdom has departed from you,

and you shall be driven from a movement and your dwelling shall be with the

base of the field and you shall be made to eat grass like an ox and seven times shall

pass over you until you have learned that the most high

rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.

Immediately the word was fulfilled upon Nebokinesa. He was driven from

among men and ate grass like an ox and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his head grew as long as eagle's feathers

and his knees were like birds clouds.

At the end of the day, Nebokanesa lifted my eyes to heaven and my recent

return to me and I bless the most high and praise and honor him who lives forever.

For his dominion is an everlasting dominion,

and his kingdom induced from generation to generation.

All the inhabitants of the earth

are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his

wheel in the host of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth, and none can stay his hand

or say to him what doest thou.

At the same time my reason returned to me and for the glory of my kingdom my majesty and

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