Daniel 9:25-27

Contemporary English Version

²⁵You need to realize that from the command to rebuild Jerusalem until the coming of the Chosen Leader,^[a] it will be 7 weeks and another 62 weeks.^[b] Streets will be built in Jerusalem, and a trench will be dug around the city for protection, but these will be difficult times.^[c] ²⁶At the end of the 62 weeks,^[d] the Chosen Leader^[e] will be killed and left with nothing.^[f]

A foreign ruler and his army will sweep down like a mighty flood, leaving both the city and the temple in ruins, and war and destruction will continue until the end, just as God has decided. ²⁷^(A) For one week^[g] this foreigner^[h] will make a firm agreement with many people, and halfway through this week,^[i] he will end all sacrifices and offerings. Then the “Horrible Thing” that causes destruction will be put there. And it will stay there until the time God has decided to destroy this one who destroys.

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Footnotes

9.25 the Chosen Leader: Or “a chosen leader.” In Hebrew the word “chosen” means “to pour oil (on someone's head).” In Old Testament times it was the custom to pour oil on a person's head when that person was chosen to be a priest or a king.
9.25 7 weeks and another 62 weeks: Or “7 times 7 years and another 62 times 7 years.”
9.25 it will be 7 … difficult times: Or “it will be 7 weeks. Then streets will be built in Jerusalem, and a trench will be dug around the city for protection. But Jerusalem will have difficult times for 62 weeks.”
9.26 62 weeks: Or “62 times 7 years.”
9.26 the Chosen Leader: See the note at 9.25.
9.26 left with nothing: Or “no one will take his place.”
9.27 one week: Or “7 years.”
9.27 this foreigner: Or “the Chosen Leader.”
9.27 halfway through this week: Or “for half of this week of 7 years.”