Daniel 7
New Catholic Bible
Apocalypse: Visions of Daniel concerning the Future[a]
The Visions of the Beasts and the Son of Man[b]
Chapter 7
Four Great Beasts Come Up from the Sea.[c] 1 In the first year that Belshazzar was king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and experienced visions in his mind as he lay in bed. Then he wrote down his account of the dream as follows:
2 In the vision I saw during the night, I, Daniel, beheld the four winds of heaven churning up the great sea. 3 Four huge beasts then emerged from the sea, each one different from the others. 4 The first was like a lion, but with the wings of an eagle. As I watched, its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet as if it were a human being. It was also given a human heart.
5 Then a second beast appeared that looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. The order was given to it: “Arise and gorge yourself with bodies.”
6 After this, as I watched, another beast appeared, like a leopard. On its back it had four wings like those of a bird, and it had four heads. This beast was given dominion.
7 After this, in my night visions, I beheld a fourth beast terrifying, fearsome, and exceedingly strong. With its great iron teeth it devoured and crushed its victims, and it trampled their remains with its feet. It was different from all of the preceding beasts, and it had ten horns.
8 While I was gazing up at these horns, I beheld another horn, a small one, sprouting in their midst. Three of the other horns were uprooted to make room for it. This horn had eyes like human eyes, and a mouth that spoke with arrogance.
One Like the Son of Man[d]
9 While I was watching,
thrones were set in place,
and the Ancient One sat on his throne.
His robe was as white as snow,
and the hair on his head was as pure as wool.
His throne was ablaze with fiery flames,
and its wheels were a burning fire.
10 A stream of fire surged forth
and flowed out from his presence.
Thousands upon thousands served him,
and myriads upon myriads stood before him.
The court was in session,
and the books lay open.
11 Then I continued to watch because of the arrogant words that the horn was speaking. And as I watched the beast was put to death. Its body was destroyed and thrown into the fire to be consumed. 12 As for the other beasts, they lost their dominion, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.
13 As the night visions continued,
I beheld approaching on the clouds of heaven
one like a son of man.
He came before the Ancient One
and was presented to him.
14 Dominion and glory and kingship
were conferred upon him
so that all peoples and nations of every language
would become his servants.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that will never pass away,
and his kingdom is one
that will never be destroyed.
15 The Kingdom of the Holy Ones of the Most High. I, Daniel, experienced great anguish of spirit, and the visions that flashed through my mind truly terrified me. 16 Therefore, I approached one of those who were standing there and asked him what all this truly signified. He in turn revealed to me what all these things meant, 17 “These four great beasts represent four kingdoms that will arise from the earth. 18 But the holy ones of the Most High shall receive kingly power and possess it forever and ever.”
19 Then I expressed my desire to know about the fourth beast, since it was different from all the rest, and terrifying to behold with its iron teeth and bronze claws, and trampling underfoot and devouring its victims. 20 I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head, and why the other horn sprouted, before which three of them fell, the horn that had eyes and an arrogant mouth, and whose appearance was more imposing than that of the others.
21 As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy ones and prevailing over them, 22 until the Ancient One came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy ones of the Most High, and the time came when the holy ones gained possession of the kingdom. 23 This is the explanation he offered:
“As for the fourth beast,
it signifies a fourth kingdom on earth
that will differ from all other kingdoms.
It shall devour the earth,
trample it underfoot, and crush it to pieces.
24 As for the ten horns,
from this kingdom ten kings shall rise,
and another shall arise after them.
This last king will be different from the earlier ones,
and he will overcome three kings.
25 He will insult the Most High
and oppress the holy ones of the Most High
in his stubborn determination
to change the sacred seasons and the law.
They shall be given into his power
for a time, two times, and half a time.
26 Finally the court will sit in judgment,
and his power will be taken away,
with his sovereignty completely destroyed forever.
27 Then kingship and dominion and the splendor
of all the kingdoms under the heavens
will be given to the holy people of the Most High,
whose kingdom will be everlasting,
and all dominions will serve and obey him.”
28 Here the account ends. I, Daniel, was greatly disturbed by my thoughts, and I turned pale, but I kept these things to myself.
Footnotes
- Daniel 7:1 Up to this point we have been edified by events in the life of a hero. Now he, himself, speaks in the chiaroscuro language of the apocalypses. The narrative transports the reader beyond the passing scene: the great empires that come and are swallowed up are simply preparations for the events that will mark the end of time. The prophet will also proclaim the mysterious coming of a “son of man” and the resurrection of the righteous.
- Daniel 7:1 This is the most important eschatological passage in the Book of Daniel. The immediate explanation is concerned with the time of Antiochus IV. But there are other Antiochuses in the course of human history.
- Daniel 7:1 These fabulous animals, close relatives of the forces of disorder which are often mentioned in the Bible (Ps 74; Isa 51:9) or in the primitive traditions of the peoples, stand here for the empires that controlled the East from the seventh to the second century before our era. If we may judge by the images he uses, the author sees the order of regimes as follows: Babylon, the Medes, the Persians, and then the Greeks, who have recently astonished the world by the conquests of Alexander the Great, who died in 323 B.C. Alexander’s successors have divided his empire among themselves, and it is this that is presently sowing terror. Horns are always a sign of power; here they symbolize the kings of the Greek dynasty of the Seleucids, who control Syria. The little, destructive horn is Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175–163 B.C.), who has rid himself of more than one of his rivals. This entire scenario, then, is intended to fill out the portrait of this persecuting ruler. But Antiochus IV has passed away, and other haughty regimes have arisen that must be identified with the same critical clarity. The Book of Revelation (Rev 13) takes over the image of the horned beast to signify evil in all the forms in which it is directed against the community of those whom Christ has brought together.
- Daniel 7:9 At this point, a mysterious personage is enthroned: the Man par excellence, who calls to mind the figure of the Servant in Isaiah (Isa 52:13-15) and represents the group of spiritual believers to whom God entrusts his kingdom forever (Dan 7:18, 22, 27). He stands at the head of the kingdom of God announced by the Prophets. In this way the coming fall of Antiochus and of the persecuting regimes is prefigured; it will be possible once again to profess the faith freely. In addition, the vision promises a new era in which the whole of humanity will be gathered into the one kingdom of God. Also included here is the title son of man, which Jesus will apply to himself and which, once freed from nationalistic interpretations, will suggest the newness of God’s work in the world, namely, the gospel message. In the Christian Apocalypse, the title designates Christ as judge at the end of time (Mt 24:30; Rev 1:13; 14:14).
但以理书 7
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
但以理梦见四兽
7 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。 2 但以理说：“我在夜间的异象中看见天风四面吹来，搅动大海。 3 接着，四只巨兽从海中上来，各有不同的形状。 4 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。 5 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！’
6 “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。 7 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。 8 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。
9 “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。”
Daniel 7
King James Version
7 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.
2 Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.
3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.
4 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.
5 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.
6 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.
7 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.
8 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.
9 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.
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