³ Four great beasts,^(A) each different from the others, came up out of the sea.

⁴ “The first was like a lion,^(B) and it had the wings of an eagle.^(C) I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted from the ground so that it stood on two feet like a human being, and the mind of a human was given to it.

⁵ “And there before me was a second beast, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, ‘Get up and eat your fill of flesh!’^(D)

⁶ “After that, I looked, and there before me was another beast, one that looked like a leopard.^(E) And on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. This beast had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.

⁷ “After that, in my vision^(F) at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast—terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron^(G) teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled^(H) underfoot whatever was left.^(I) It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns.^(J)

¹⁸ But the holy people^(A) of the Most High will receive the kingdom^(B) and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever.’^(C)

²⁷ Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms^(A) under heaven will be handed over to the holy people^(B) of the Most High.^(C) His kingdom will be an everlasting^(D) kingdom, and all rulers will worship^(E) and obey him.’

⁴⁴ “In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush^(A) all those kingdoms^(B) and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.^(C)