from this good city, Babylon,
which is called the center of
the earth, Shinar, where all
peoples gather and exchange
their goods for silver, and their
silver for many goods.
Great has been my solitude,
but greater still my soul, for
gods alone endure much lonesomeness.
And is Nebuchadnezzar not like
the gods?
You may have heard
abroad that some strange god had
sent me out, but pay no mind to
scandal-spreaders. My exile was
my own: I drove my soul - I! -
into the fields to live a life
like oxen live, like many legs
that scuttle in the deep, and
it was not with me as with
the sons of men. The strongest
man would not dare, as I dared,
to leave aside the blooming world,
the city of all good things, and
seek alone the ragged edge of
lonesomeness.
Therefore,
Belteshazzar, in whom many strong
spirits wrestle and contest, proclaim
in the city celebration, for I,
Nebuchadnezzar, am among men again,
and the sons of men may see my splendor.
