Daniel 12
New English Translation
12 “At that time Michael,
the great prince who watches over your people,[a]
will arise.[b]
There will be a time of distress
unlike any other from the nation’s beginning[c]
up to that time.
But at that time your own people,
all those whose names are[d] found written in the book,
will escape.
2 Many of those who sleep
in the dusty ground will awake—
some to everlasting life,
and others to shame and everlasting abhorrence.[e]
3 But the wise will shine
like the brightness of the heavenly expanse.
And those bringing many to righteousness
will be like the stars forever and ever.
4 “But you, Daniel, close up these words and seal the book until the time of the end. Many will dash about,[f] and knowledge will increase.”
5 I, Daniel, watched as two others stood there, one on each side of the river.[g] 6 One said to the man clothed in linen who was above the waters of the river, “When will the end of these wondrous events occur?” 7 Then I heard the man clothed in linen who was over the waters of the river as he raised both his right and left hands to the sky[h] and made an oath by the one who lives forever: “It is for a time, times, and half a time. Then, when the power of the one who shatters[i] the holy people has been exhausted, all these things will be finished.”
8 I heard, but I did not understand. So I said, “Sir,[j] what will happen after these things?” 9 He said, “Go, Daniel. For these matters are closed and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many will be purified, made clean, and refined, but the wicked will go on being wicked. None of the wicked will understand, though the wise will understand. 11 From the time that the daily sacrifice is removed and the abomination that causes desolation is set in place,[k] there are 1,290 days. 12 Blessed is the one who waits and attains to the 1,335 days. 13 But you should go your way[l] until the end.[m] You will rest and then at the end of the days you will arise to receive[n] what you have been allotted.”[o]
Footnotes
- Daniel 12:1 tn Heb “stands over the sons of your people.”
- Daniel 12:1 tn Heb “will stand up.”
- Daniel 12:1 tn Or “from the beginning of a nation.”
- Daniel 12:1 tn The words “whose names are” are added in the translation for stylistic reasons and for clarification.
- Daniel 12:2 sn This verse is the only undisputed reference to a literal resurrection found in the Hebrew Bible.
- Daniel 12:4 tn Or “will run back and forth”; KJV “shall run to and fro”; NIV “will go here and there”; CEV “will go everywhere.”sn Many will dash about is probably an allusion to Amos 8:12.
- Daniel 12:5 tn Heb “one to this edge of the river and one to that edge of the river.”
- Daniel 12:7 tn Or “to the heavens.” The Hebrew term שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) may be translated “heavens” or “sky” depending on the context.
- Daniel 12:7 tc The present translation reads יַד־נֹפֵץ (yad nofets, “hand of one who shatters”) rather than the MT נַפֵּץ־יַד (nappets yad, “to shatter the hand”).
- Daniel 12:8 tn Heb “my lord,” a title of polite address.
- Daniel 12:11 tn Heb “to give.”
- Daniel 12:13 tn The words “your way” are not in the Hebrew text but are implied.
- Daniel 12:13 tc The LXX lacks “until the end.”
- Daniel 12:13 tn The word “receive” is added in the translation for clarification.
- Daniel 12:13 sn The deuterocanonical writings known as the Story of Susanna and Bel and the Dragon appear respectively as chapters 13 and 14 of the book of Daniel in the Greek version of this book. Although these writings are not part of the Hebrew/Aramaic text of Daniel, they were popular among certain early communities who valued traditions about the life of Daniel.
Daniel 12
Living Bible
12 “At that time Michael, the mighty angelic prince who stands guard over your nation, will stand up and fight for you in heaven against satanic forces,[a] and there will be a time of anguish for the Jews greater than any previous suffering in Jewish history. And yet every one of your people whose names are written in the Book will endure it.
2 “And many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
3 “And those who are wise—the people of God—shall shine as brightly as the sun’s brilliance, and those who turn many to righteousness will glitter like stars forever.
4 “But Daniel, keep this prophecy a secret; seal it up so that it will not be understood until the end times, when travel and education shall be vastly increased!”
5 Then I, Daniel, looked and saw two men[b] on each bank of a river. 6 And one of them asked the man in linen robes who was standing now above the river, “How long will it be until all these terrors end?”
7 He replied, with both hands lifted to heaven, taking oath by him who lives forever and ever, that they will not end until three and a half years after the power of God’s people has been crushed.[c]
8 I heard what he said, but I didn’t understand what he meant. So I said, “Sir, how will all this finally end?”
9 But he said, “Go now, Daniel, for what I have said is not to be understood until the time of the end. 10 Many shall be purified by great trials and persecutions. But the wicked shall continue in their wickedness, and none of them will understand. Only those who are willing to learn will know what it means.
11 “From the time the daily sacrifice is taken away and the Horrible Thing is set up to be worshiped, there will be 1,290 days.[d] 12 And blessed are those who wait and remain until the 1,335th day!
13 “But go on now to the end of your life and your rest; for you will rise again and have your full share of those last days.”[e]
Footnotes
- Daniel 12:1 and fight for you in heaven against satanic forces, implied.
- Daniel 12:5 two men, Hebrew, “two others,” probably angels.
- Daniel 12:7 three and a half years after the power of God’s people has been crushed, literally, “a time, times, and half a time when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end.”
- Daniel 12:11 1,290 days. Three and a half years (v. 7) plus one month.
- Daniel 12:13 of those last days, literally, “at the end of the days.”
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