但以理書4:19-27

4:19 於是稱為伯提沙撒的但以理驚訝片時，心意驚惶。王說：「伯提沙撒啊，不要因夢和夢的講解驚惶。」伯提沙撒回答說：「我主啊，願這夢歸與恨惡你的人，講解歸與你的敵人。

4:20 你所見的樹漸長，而且堅固，高得頂天，從地極都能看見；

4:21 葉子華美，果子甚多，可作眾生的食物；田野的走獸住在其下；天空的飛鳥宿在枝上。

4:22 「王啊，這漸長又堅固的樹就是你。你的威勢漸長及天，你的權柄管到地極。

4:23 王既看見一位守望的聖者從天而降，說：『將這樹砍伐毀壞，樹墩卻要留在地內，用鐵圈和銅圈箍住；在田野的青草中，讓天露滴濕，使他與地上的獸一同吃草，直到經過七期。』

4:24 「王啊，講解就是這樣：臨到我主我王的事是出於至高者的命。

4:25 你必被趕出離開世人，與野地的獸同居，吃草如牛，被天露滴濕，且要經過七期。等你知道至高者在人的國中掌權，要將國賜與誰就賜與誰。

4:26 守望者既吩咐存留樹墩，等你知道諸天掌權，以後你的國必定歸你。

4:27 王啊，求你悅納我的諫言，以施行公義斷絕罪過，以憐憫窮人除掉罪孽，或者你的平安可以延長。」

19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was dismayed for a while, and his thoughts alarmed him. The king answered and said, "Belteshazzar, let not the dream or the interpretation alarm you." Belteshazzar answered and said, "My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you and its interpretation for your enemies! 20 The tree you saw, which grew and became strong, so that its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth, 21 whose leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in which was food for all, under which beasts of the field found shade, and in whose branches the birds of the heavens lived— 22 it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong. Your greatness has grown and reaches to heaven, and your dominion to the ends of the earth. And because the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, 'Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field, and let him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven periods of time pass over him,' 24 this is the interpretation, O king:It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king, 25 that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will. 26 And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be confirmed for you from the time that you know that Heaven rules. 27 Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you:break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity."

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    但以理解釋尼布甲尼撒王的夢，表明上帝要管教巴比倫王，讓他知道誰真正掌權。看起來尼布甲尼撒王和但以理的關係不錯，所以他能察覺但以理的猶豫，也願意鼓勵但以理照實說出夢境的講解。但以理也很謹慎的先陳明王的威榮，再講負面的警告。

    從這裡看見但以理趁機勸告尼布甲尼撒王：「以施行公義斷絕罪過，以憐憫窮人除掉罪孽，或者你的平安可以延長。」

    因為歷史上的尼布甲尼撒王崇尚建設，甚至建了「空中花園」成為當時的世界七大奇景之一。因此很可能不太理會勞工的死活，但以理趁機建議巴比倫王去惡從善。

    這也看出基督徒在社會上要站在什麼角度說話，不是巴結有權勢者，而是要照顧弱勢與邊緣者，因為這是上帝託付之使命，因為上帝知道他們發聲的機會很少，並且不被人注意，而那些既得利益者卻常打壓他們，不肯分一點給他們，使他們得不到他們應得的，這就是不公義，是上帝所不喜悅的！