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Daniel 4:17
ESV The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.’
NIV '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 all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people.'
NASB This sentence is by the decree of the angelic watchers, And the decision is a command of the holy ones, In order that the living may know That the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, And He grants it to whomever He wishes And sets over it the lowliest of people.'
CSB This word is by decree of the watchers, and the decision is by command from the holy ones. This is so that the living will know that the Most High is ruler over human kingdoms. He gives them to anyone he wants and sets the lowliest of people over them.
NLT For this has been decreed by the messengers ; it is commanded by the holy ones, so that everyone may know that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world. He gives them to anyone he chooses — even to the lowliest of people.'
KJV This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

What does Daniel 4:17 mean?

The angelic decree (Daniel 4:13) ends by stating the purpose of the humiliating events that would happen to Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:14–16). The purpose of these events is to teach Nebuchadnezzar humility before God. Despite the king's arrogance (Daniel 3:15) and great power (Daniel 2:36–38), the Lord gives ability to whomever He chooses. Compared to the Lord God, any ruler is just a lowly, limited human being. Nebuchadnezzar had considered himself a deity with vast authority over a vast empire. His pride prompted him to set up an idol on the plain of Dura and force his subjects to worship it (Daniel 3:1–6). However, the Lord planned to teach Nebuchadnezzar that God is the supreme Ruler of everything in heaven and on earth.

This verse speaks of the "watchers" as a group, and the judgment to be a "decree" and "decision" of that group. However, this does not imply that the collection of spiritual beings decided on this result. Nor does it mean the judgment is enforced on their authority. In the original language, the first phrase of this verse is composed only of nouns. A more poetic and literalist rendering might be simply to state, "the decree of the watchers, a sentence, a command of the holy ones, a decision." Context and translation are needed to include verbs. The impression is that these angelic voices are declaring something: they are announcing it officially, indicating that it has been decided.

Such a message is delivered under the direction of God, the Most High. Romans 13:1 affirms the truth that God places human beings in positions of authority over nations: "There is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God."
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