但以理梦见四兽

巴比伦王伯沙撒元年,但以理在床上做了一个梦,脑中出现了异象,便把梦记录下来,讲述其中的大意。 但以理说:“我在夜间的异象中看见天风四面吹来,搅动大海。 接着,四只巨兽从海中上来,各有不同的形状。 第一只兽像狮子,但有鹰的翅膀。我观看时,见它的翅膀被拔掉。它被扶起来,像人一样双脚站在地上,并被赋予人的头脑。 第二只兽像熊,用两只后腿站立,牙齿间叼着三根肋骨,有声音对它说,‘起来,多吞吃肉吧!’

“此后,我继续观看,见还有一只兽像豹,背上有四个如鸟翼般的翅膀。这兽有四个头,并被赋予权柄。 此后,我在夜间的异象中看见第四只兽,恐怖可怕,极其强壮,用大铁牙吞吃、咬碎猎物,用脚践踏所剩的。这兽与前三只兽不同,它有十个角。 我观看这些角时,见其中长出一个小角,先前的角中有三个被连根拔出,让它取而代之。这小角有人的眼睛和说狂言的口。

“我看见宝座已设立,
上面坐着亘古长存者,
祂的衣服洁白如雪,
头发如纯净的羊毛。
祂的宝座是火焰,
宝座的轮子是烈火。
10 从祂面前流出火河,
事奉祂的有千千,
侍立在祂面前的有万万。
祂坐下要审判,
案卷已经展开。

11 “我继续观看,见那兽被杀,身体被毁并被扔进火中,因为它的小角口出狂言。 12 至于其余的兽,它们的权柄都被夺去,但获准再存活一段时间。

13 “我在夜间的异象中看见一位像人子的,驾着天云而来,到亘古长存者那里,被引到祂面前。 14 他得到权柄、荣耀和国度,各族、各邦、各语种的人都要事奉他。他的统治直到永远、没有穷尽,他的国度永不灭亡。

解释异象

15 “我但以理心中不安,脑中出现的异象令我恐惧, 16 便走近一位侍立一旁的,问他这些事的意思。他就向我解释这些事的意思,说, 17 ‘这四只巨兽是指四个将要在世上兴起的国。 18 但至高者的圣民必承受国度,并永永远远拥有国度。’

19 “那时,我想知道关于第四兽的事,它与其余三兽不同,极其可怕,有铁牙铜爪,吞吃、咬碎猎物,用脚践踏所剩的。 20 我也想知道有关它头上的十角及后来长出的小角的事。这小角取代了三角,它有眼和说狂言的口,比其他的角更强大。 21 我看见这小角与圣民争战,并占了上风。 22 后来亘古长存的至高者来为祂的圣民申冤。圣民拥有国度的时候到了。

23 “那位侍立一旁的说,‘第四只兽是指世上将兴起的第四个国,与其他各国不同,它将吞吃、践踏、咬碎天下。 24 十角是指这国中将兴起十个王,后来又兴起一王,与先前的王不同,他将制服三个王。 25 他必亵渎至高者,迫害至高者的圣民,试图改变节期和律法。圣民将被交在他手中三年半。 26 然而,审判者将坐下来审判,夺去并永远废除他的权柄。 27 那时,国度、权柄和天下万国的尊荣必赐给至高者的圣民。祂的国度直到永远,一切掌权者都要事奉祂,顺服祂。’

28 “这就是我的梦。我但以理心中十分害怕,脸色苍白,但我没有把这事告诉别人。”

但以理夢見四獸

巴比倫王伯沙撒元年,但以理在床上做了一個夢,腦中出現了異象,便把夢記錄下來,講述其中的大意。 但以理說:「我在夜間的異象中看見天風四面吹來,攪動大海。 接著,四隻巨獸從海中上來,各有不同的形狀。 第一隻獸像獅子,但有鷹的翅膀。我觀看時,見牠的翅膀被拔掉。牠被扶起來,像人一樣雙腳站在地上,並被賦予人的頭腦。 第二隻獸像熊,用兩隻後腿站立,牙齒間叼著三根肋骨,有聲音對牠說,『起來,多吞吃肉吧!』

「此後,我繼續觀看,見還有一隻獸像豹,背上有四個如鳥翼般的翅膀。這獸有四個頭,並被賦予權柄。 此後,我在夜間的異象中看見第四隻獸,恐怖可怕,極其強壯,用大鐵牙吞吃、咬碎獵物,用腳踐踏所剩的。這獸與前三隻獸不同,牠有十個角。 我觀看這些角時,見其中長出一個小角,先前的角中有三個被連根拔出,讓它取而代之。這小角有人的眼睛和說狂言的口。

「我看見寶座已設立,
上面坐著亙古長存者,
祂的衣服潔白如雪,
頭髮如純淨的羊毛。
祂的寶座是火焰,
寶座的輪子是烈火。
10 從祂面前流出火河,
事奉祂的有千千,
侍立在祂面前的有萬萬。
祂坐下要審判,
案卷已經展開。

11 「我繼續觀看,見那獸被殺,身體被毀並被扔進火中,因為牠的小角口出狂言。 12 至於其餘的獸,牠們的權柄都被奪去,但獲准再存活一段時間。

13 「我在夜間的異象中看見一位像人子的,駕著天雲而來,到亙古長存者那裡,被引到祂面前。 14 他得到權柄、榮耀和國度,各族、各邦、各語種的人都要事奉他。他的統治直到永遠、沒有窮盡,他的國度永不滅亡。

解釋異象

15 「我但以理心中不安,腦中出現的異象令我恐懼, 16 便走近一位侍立一旁的,問他這些事的意思。他就向我解釋這些事的意思,說, 17 『這四隻巨獸是指四個將要在世上興起的國。 18 但至高者的聖民必承受國度,並永永遠遠擁有國度。』

19 「那時,我想知道關於第四獸的事,牠與其餘三獸不同,極其可怕,有鐵牙銅爪,吞吃、咬碎獵物,用腳踐踏所剩的。 20 我也想知道有關牠頭上的十角及後來長出的小角的事。這小角取代了三角,它有眼和說狂言的口,比其他的角更強大。 21 我看見這小角與聖民爭戰,並佔了上風。 22 後來亙古長存的至高者來為祂的聖民伸冤。聖民擁有國度的時候到了。

23 「那位侍立一旁的說,『第四隻獸是指世上將興起的第四個國,與其他各國不同,牠將吞吃、踐踏、咬碎天下。 24 十角是指這國中將興起十個王,後來又興起一王,與先前的王不同,他將制伏三個王。 25 他必褻瀆至高者,迫害至高者的聖民,試圖改變節期和律法。聖民將被交在他手中三年半。 26 然而,審判者將坐下來審判,奪去並永遠廢除他的權柄。 27 那時,國度、權柄和天下萬國的尊榮必賜給至高者的聖民。祂的國度直到永遠,一切掌權者都要事奉祂,順服祂。』

28 「這就是我的夢。我但以理心中十分害怕,臉色蒼白,但我沒有把這事告訴別人。」

Daniel’s Vision of the Four Beasts

In the first year of King Belshazzar of Babylon, Daniel had a dream with visions in his mind(A) as he was lying in his bed. He wrote down the dream,(B) and here is the summary[a] of his account. Daniel said, “In my vision at night I was watching, and suddenly the four winds of heaven(C) stirred up the great sea. Four huge beasts(D) came up from the sea,(E) each different from the other.

“The first was like a lion(F) but had eagle’s wings. I continued watching until its wings were torn off. It was lifted up from the ground, set on its feet like a man, and given a human mind.

“Suddenly, another beast appeared, a second one, that looked like a bear.(G) It was raised up on one side, with three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, ‘Get up! Gorge yourself on flesh.’

“After this, while I was watching, suddenly another beast appeared. It was like a leopard(H) with four wings of a bird on its back. It had four heads,(I) and it was given dominion.

“After this, while I was watching in the night visions, suddenly a fourth beast(J) appeared, frightening and dreadful, and incredibly strong, with large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed, and it trampled with its feet whatever was left. It was different from all the beasts before it, and it had ten horns.(K)

“While I was considering the horns, suddenly another horn,(L) a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. And suddenly in this horn there were eyes like the eyes of a human and a mouth that was speaking arrogantly.(M)

The Ancient of Days and the Son of Man

“As I kept watching,

thrones were set in place,(N)
and the Ancient of Days took his seat.
His clothing was white like snow,(O)
and the hair of his head like whitest wool.(P)
His throne was flaming fire;(Q)
its wheels were blazing fire.(R)
10 A river of fire was flowing,
coming out from his presence.
Thousands upon thousands(S) served him;
ten thousand times ten thousand(T) stood before him.
The court was convened,(U)
and the books were opened.(V)

11 “I watched, then, because of the sound of the arrogant words the horn was speaking. As I continued watching, the beast was killed and its body destroyed and given over to the burning fire.(W) 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was removed, but an extension of life was granted to them for a certain period of time.(X) 13 I continued watching in the night visions,

and suddenly one like a son of man(Y)
was coming with the clouds of heaven.(Z)
He approached the Ancient of Days
and was escorted before him.
14 He was given dominion(AA)
and glory and a kingdom,
so that those of every people,
nation, and language(AB)
should serve(AC) him.
His dominion is an everlasting(AD) dominion
that will not pass away,
and his kingdom is one
that will not be destroyed.

Interpretation of the Vision

15 “As for me, Daniel, my spirit was deeply distressed within me,[b] and the visions in my mind terrified me.(AE) 16 I approached one of those who were standing by and asked him(AF) to clarify all this. So he let me know the interpretation of these things:(AG) 17 ‘These huge beasts, four in number, are four kings who will rise from the earth. 18 But the holy ones of the Most High will receive the kingdom and possess it forever, yes, forever and ever.’(AH)

19 “Then I wanted to be clear about the fourth beast,(AI) the one different from all the others, extremely terrifying, with iron teeth and bronze claws, devouring, crushing, and trampling with its feet whatever was left. 20 I also wanted to know about the ten horns(AJ) on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three fell—the horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spoke arrogantly,(AK) and that looked bigger than the others. 21 As I was watching, this horn waged war(AL) against the holy ones and was prevailing over them 22 until the Ancient of Days arrived and a judgment(AM) was given in favor of the holy ones of the Most High, for the time had come, and the holy ones took possession of the kingdom.

23 “This is what he said: ‘The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, different from all the other kingdoms. It will devour the whole earth, trample it down, and crush it. 24 The ten horns(AN) are ten kings who will rise from this kingdom. Another king, different from the previous ones, will rise after them and subdue three kings. 25 He will speak words against the Most High(AO) and oppress[c] the holy ones(AP) of the Most High. He will intend to change religious festivals[d] and laws,(AQ) and the holy ones will be handed over to him for a time, times, and half a time.[e](AR) 26 But the court will convene,(AS) and his dominion will be taken away, to be completely destroyed forever.(AT) 27 The kingdom, dominion, and greatness of the kingdoms under all of heaven will be given to the people, the holy ones of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom,(AU) and all rulers will serve and obey him.’

28 “This is the end of the account. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts terrified me greatly,(AV) and my face turned pale,[f] but I kept the matter to myself.”(AW)

Footnotes

  1. 7:1 Lit beginning
  2. 7:15 Lit was distressed in the middle of its sheath
  3. 7:25 Lit wear out
  4. 7:25 Lit change times
  5. 7:25 Or for three and a half years
  6. 7:28 Lit my brightness changed on me

Daniel’s Dream of Four Beasts

In the first year of Belshazzar(A) king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions(B) passed through his mind(C) as he was lying in bed.(D) He wrote(E) down the substance of his dream.

Daniel said: “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me were the four winds of heaven(F) churning up the great sea. Four great beasts,(G) each different from the others, came up out of the sea.

“The first was like a lion,(H) and it had the wings of an eagle.(I) 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.

“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!’(J)

“After that, I looked, and there before me was another beast, one that looked like a leopard.(K) 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.

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

“While I was thinking about the horns, there before me was another horn, a little(Q) one, which came up among them; and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like the eyes of a human being(R) and a mouth that spoke boastfully.(S)

“As I looked,

“thrones were set in place,
    and the Ancient of Days(T) took his seat.(U)
His clothing was as white as snow;(V)
    the hair of his head was white like wool.(W)
His throne was flaming with fire,
    and its wheels(X) were all ablaze.
10 A river of fire(Y) was flowing,
    coming out from before him.(Z)
Thousands upon thousands attended him;
    ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
The court was seated,
    and the books(AA) were opened.

11 “Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking.(AB) I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire.(AC) 12 (The other beasts had been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of time.)

13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man,[a](AD) coming(AE) with the clouds of heaven.(AF) He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority,(AG) glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him.(AH) His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom(AI) is one that will never be destroyed.(AJ)

The Interpretation of the Dream

15 “I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me.(AK) 16 I approached one of those standing there and asked him the meaning of all this.

“So he told me and gave me the interpretation(AL) of these things: 17 ‘The four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth. 18 But the holy people(AM) of the Most High will receive the kingdom(AN) and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever.’(AO)

19 “Then I wanted to know the meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others and most terrifying, with its iron teeth and bronze claws—the beast that crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. 20 I also wanted to know about the ten horns(AP) on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell—the horn that looked more imposing than the others and that had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully.(AQ) 21 As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them,(AR) 22 until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.(AS)

23 “He gave me this explanation: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it.(AT) 24 The ten horns(AU) are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. 25 He will speak against the Most High(AV) and oppress his holy people(AW) and try to change the set times(AX) and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time.[b](AY)

26 “‘But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed(AZ) forever. 27 Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms(BA) under heaven will be handed over to the holy people(BB) of the Most High.(BC) His kingdom will be an everlasting(BD) kingdom, and all rulers will worship(BE) and obey him.’

28 “This is the end of the matter. I, Daniel, was deeply troubled(BF) by my thoughts,(BG) and my face turned pale,(BH) but I kept the matter to myself.”

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 7:13 The Aramaic phrase bar enash means human being. The phrase son of man is retained here because of its use in the New Testament as a title of Jesus, probably based largely on this verse.
  2. Daniel 7:25 Or for a year, two years and half a year

In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters.

Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.

And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.

The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it.

And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.

After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.

After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.

I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.

I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.

10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

11 I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.

12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.

13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.

14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

15 I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.

16 I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.

17 These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.

18 But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.

19 Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet;

20 And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.

21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;

22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.

23 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.

24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.

25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

26 But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.

27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

28 Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.