But leave the stump with its roots in the ground...

Nebuchadnezzar's Dream:

These are the visions I saw while lying in my bed:
I looked, and there before me stood a tree in the middle of the land.
Its height was enormous.
The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky;
it was visible to the ends of the earth.
Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all.
Under it the beasts of the field found shelter,
and the birds of the air lived in its branches;
from it every creature was fed.

In the visions I saw while lying in my bed, I looked, and there before me was a messenger, a holy one, coming down from heaven. He called in a loud voice:
'Cut down the tree and trim off its branches;
strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit.
Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches.
But let the stump and its roots, bound with iron and bronze, remain in the ground,
in the grass of the field.
Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven,
and let him live with the animals among the plants of the earth.
Let his mind be changed from that of a man
and let him be given the mind of an animal,
till seven times pass by for him.

The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men.'

This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had.

Daniel's Interpretation:

The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole earth, with beautiful leaves and abundant fruit, providing food for all, giving shelter to the beasts of the field, and having nesting places in its branches for the birds of the air -- you, O king, are that tree! You have become great and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to distant parts of the earth.

You, O king, saw a messenger, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, 'Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field, while its roots remain in the ground. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven; let him live like the wild animals, until seven times pass by for him.'

This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king: You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes. The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules.

What Nebuchadnezzar Learned from Living his Dream:

At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High;
I honored and glorified him who lives forever.
His dominion is an eternal dominion;
His kingdom endures from generation to generation.

All the peoples of the earth
are regarded as nothing.
He does as He pleases
with the powers of heaven
and the peoples of the earth.
No one can hold back His hand
or say to Him: "What have You done?"

At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride.

Daniel 4: 10-18; 20-26; 34-37